AKRON — The City of Akron has fired a police officer involved in the fatal shooting of Jazmir Tucker and reached a tentative $4.75 million settlement with the teen’s family in a federal wrongful-death lawsuit, city officials announced Friday.
Mayor cites failures in medical care, camera policy
Mayor Shammas Malik said Officer Davon Fields was terminated after the city concluded Fields failed to properly provide medical aid following the Thanksgiving 2024 shooting and violated the Akron Police Department’s body-worn camera policy. Malik described a draft internal investigation as lacking credibility and said he could not rely on it to resolve the matter.
“The draft internal investigation raised serious concerns with its analysis of the incident and conclusions unsupported by the weight of the evidence,” Malik said in a statement.
The announcement accompanies a tentative agreement to settle all claims the Tucker family brought in federal court. City officials said the settlement was reached through federal mediation and remains subject to approval by a probate judge. The settlement statement also noted it contains no admission of wrongdoing by the city or its employees.
Details of the encounter and legal claims
Tucker, a freshman at North High School, was shot and killed Thanksgiving night 2024 after two Akron officers investigating reports of gunfire encountered him near East Avenue and Vernon Odom Boulevard. Authorities later said officers recovered a handgun with an extended magazine zipped inside Tucker’s jacket pocket, and that shell casings matching a recovered firearm were found at the scene.
Attorneys for Tucker’s family have said the family sought answers, accountability and changes to prevent similar incidents. Their lawyer, Robert Gresham, told reporters the family wanted more than financial compensation.
“The family has always wanted more than money,” said attorney Robert Gresham, who represents the Tucker family. “They wanted answers. They wanted accountability and changes that might prevent another family from going through this.”
Local response and broader implications
The case drew protests and renewed scrutiny of police use-of-force practices in Akron. The city’s decision to fire an officer and the resolve to settle are likely to have several local consequences, including:
- Potential policy reviews at the Akron Police Department, particularly regarding medical response and body-worn camera compliance.
- Financial implications for the city budget if the settlement is approved by the probate judge.
- Public and community scrutiny of internal investigations and transparency in police oversight.
City officials did not disclose additional personnel actions or say whether other officers would face discipline in the case. The mayor’s statement contrasted with language in a draft internal investigation, which Malik said was not sufficiently supported by the evidence.
What happens next
The tentative settlement must be approved by a probate judge before it becomes final. The mediation agreement resolves the federal wrongful-death claim brought by Tucker’s family against the city. Separately, any criminal or administrative proceedings that might arise from the 2024 shooting were not detailed in the city’s announcement.
| Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shooting of Jazmir Tucker | Thanksgiving 2024 | Occurred near East Avenue and Vernon Odom Boulevard; Tucker was a North High freshman. |
| Termination of Officer Davon Fields | Aug. 14, 2026 | Mayor Malik cited failure to provide medical aid and violations of camera policy. |
| Tentative settlement reached | Aug. 14, 2026 | $4.75 million; agreement reached via federal mediation; probate judge approval required. |
As the city awaits judicial review of the settlement, community members and city leaders will watch closely for any follow-up changes to Akron Police Department practices and for further disclosures about the internal investigation that prompted the mayor to act. The case remains a focal point for questions about police accountability and the adequacy of internal review processes in Akron.
Further public records or court filings may clarify the factual findings at issue and any additional steps the city will take to address the concerns raised by the Tucker family and the broader community.
